Jimmie P. Nichols
Jimmie P. Nichols, born April 7, 1942, died March 27 at Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville.
She is survived by sister, Betty Oglesby of Crestview, Fla.; brother, Joe Bloodsworth of Fort Walton Beach; daughter, Vicky Pearman of Colorado; and son, Nicky Nichols of Destin.
Graveside services were scheduled for April 9 at Sunset Cemetery in Valparaiso.
Francis William Croft
Francis William Croft, 67, of Destin, died March 27.
He was born in Pricketts Creek, W.Va., on Sept. 24, 1934, to the late Jessie May Kurkendoll and Lesley Wilbur Croft.
Frank was an honorable veteran of the U.S. Army and a respected business owner of Sandpiper Marine Service.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Ruth Monk, and Michael Dudley.
Frank is survived by his daughters, Ruth Ann Holder and Denise Miklos; son, Adrian Wayne Croft; his brothers, Paul Ray Croft and Charles Croft; sister, Catherine Ann Croft; grandchildren, Robert Bradley, Curtis, Stephanie, Timothy, Kirsten, Savannah, Rachel, Nyla and Alexis; his loving and dear companion, Carolyne Dudley Kenney, and her children, Michell Carolyne Lewis and Mitchell Charles Kenney.
A memorial service was scheduled to be held at the Kenney residence March 30.
Trahan Mortuary Services in Pensacola was in charge of arrangements.
James S. Huey
James S. Huey, 71, a resident of Destin since 1979, died March 27 in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Huey’s career in the airline industry started in 1951 with Southern Airlines, where he worked as a mechanic. He earned a pilot’s license in 1958 and flew for Southern, Republic and Northwest Airlines, retiring in 1991.
Jim was an avid boating enthusiast who thoroughly enjoyed entertaining friends and family on the Temperance and Temperance II. He loved reading, music, cooking and passionate political discussions. Jim enjoyed life and the people around him to the fullest.
He is survived by Pat and Kyle Kelly of Fort Walton Beach; his children, Carol Brunk and husband, Bill, of Buford, Ga., Janie Bryant and husband, Colby, of Snellville, Ga., Glen Huey and wife, Tricia, of Daphne, Ala.; grandchildren, Chris, April, Daniel and Lindsay; sister, Winnie Gary of Decatur, Ga.; sister-in-law, Ernie Huey of Lilburn, Ga.; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Memorial services were scheduled for Emerald Coast Funeral Home. Interment was to be private.
Flowers are welcome, or friends who wish may contribute to a favorite charity in Mr. Huey’s memory.
Irene Bryam
Irene Kendrick Bryam died March 26 in Eastpoint.
She was the 13th and last child of Martha Mixson Kendrick and Jacob “Jake” Pierce Kendrick, and was born in Georgiana, Ala., on July 28, 1918. When she was very young her parents sold their farm and moved to Andalusia, Ala. Her father died of a heart attack when she was 9. After high school, she worked in the office of Dr. Ray in Andalusia for several years.
Irene married Jack Braxton Parker of Alabama. They had a daughter, Xellaine D. Parker, born Nov. 15, l938. That marriage failed and in 1945 she married Powell L. Bryam of Rising Sun, Ind.
In 1949, they moved to Fort Walton, which had a population of a little over 2,000 residents. It wasn’t until l953 that the name was changed to Fort Walton Beach. She watched the area grow tremendously over the years.
She was always jovial and loved to make others laugh. Even in the nursing home where she spent her last few years, she was still the entertainer. Her laugh and loving spirit will be missed by all.
She leaves her daughter, Xellaine Beith, and son-in-law, Wayne Beith of Destin; grandson Michael Beith of Santa Rosa Beach; grandson, Mitchell Beith, wife Tammy, and great-grandson, Connor A. Beith, all of Santa Rosa Beach; grandson, Jeffrey Beith, and wife, Laura, of Kansas City, Mo. Several nieces, nephews and their families also survive.
Kelly Funeral Home of Apalachicola was in charge of arrangements. Beal Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach will be her final resting place. James Morris of Crestview was in charge of graveside services.
Doris Prohaska
Doris Louella Cutler Prohaska, 85, of Destin, died peacefully March 25.
She was born May 31, 1916, in Logan, Iowa, to Bertha Fouch and Eugene Cutler, who lived throughout their lives in Logan. Doris had one brother, Glen Cutler, who lives in Hawaii.
After attending Coe College in Iowa, Doris married Lt. E.G. Prohaska, U.S. Army Air Corps, who retired as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force and worked at TRW Systems Group before he died in 1974. Doris was with her husband, “Pro,” as he performed his military duties around the world.
Doris is survived by her daughter, Dr. Jean Arundale of London, England, who is a psychologist; son, Thomas Gene Prohaska, residing in Fort Walton Beach, who is employed by Applied Research Associates Inc. as a senior scientist/engineer, and son, Jon Allen Prohaska of Shalimar, who is a vice president with Choctaw Engineering Inc. Also surviving is Donna Mansfield, wife of Thomas, who is the owner of Helping Hand Housekeeping Services. Doris has two grandchildren, Scott Arundale of Los Angeles, who works in the film industry, and Lindsey Arundale of Devon, England, who is an artist. There is one great-grandchild, Isabella Louise “Lula” Arundale, daughter of Scott and Jennifer.
Services were scheduled for March 29 at Little Chapel Funeral Home with Stephen Olivier scheduled to officiate. Burial was to be held after the service at Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Little Chapel Funeral Home in Fort Walton Beach was entrusted with the arrangements.
William E. Douglass
William Edward “Ed” Douglass of Destin, a retired aerospace engineer, died March 22.
Douglass, born in Baltimore, graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked for Westinghouse Electric Corp. for 39 years before retiring as an aeronautical engineer in Huntsville, Ala.
A World War II veteran, he served in the Anti-Aircraft Artillery with the 90th Division, 3rd U.S. Army in Europe. After the war he continued in the Ready Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Destin, where he served as an elder. Douglass was active in the Clan Douglas Society of North America for the past 10 years, serving as North Florida regent until 2001. He spent 29 years in Huntsville, where he was a member and elder in First Presbyterian Church and active in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Huntsville Symphony and Kiwanis Club.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Douglass; son, William “Bill” E. Douglass Jr. of Aurora, Colo.; daughters, Susan Dunbar of Huntsville, Ann Douglass of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Patricia “Patty” D. Buccellato of Charlotte, N.C.; sister, Alice Cronk of Sebastian, Fla.; five grandsons; two great-granddaughters and several nieces and nephews.
Services were scheduled for March 26 at First Presbyterian Church in Destin with Durl Odom officiating. Burial was to follow in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola with military honors.
Memorial donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 154 Calhoun Ave., Destin, Fla. 32541; or to Disabled American Veterans, National Service Foundation, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250.
McLaughlin Mortuary in Fort Walton Beach handled the arrangements.
Gilbert Huffman
C. Gilbert “Huff” or “Gib” Huffman died March 20, 2002.
He was born in New Castle, Ind., to Clarence and Leone Huffman in 1919.
Huffman attended the University of Tennessee on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 1941. In his senior year at Tennessee he was named to the All-American basketball team following in the tradition of his two older brothers who were All-American basketball players at Indiana University. He was a member of the South East Conference All Stars in 1940 and 1941.
Following college, Huffman coached the University of Tennessee freshman basketball team before joining the Navy in 1943. On D-day, June 6, 1944, he participated as an amphibious boat captain in the Allied attack at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. The following April his team assisted in the arrival of U.S. troops at Okinawa Island, Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1945 to join his wife of two years and to assume the position of youth athletic director for the Methodist Church in Mobile, Ala.
In 1948, Huff moved to Tulsa, Okla., where he worked for the Fred Jones Co. until his retirement in 1984. He ended his 38-year career as general manager for Fred Jones Lincoln Mercury.
After retirement and until his death he lived in Destin. He was married for 57 years to the former Marjorie Sheerer of Crossville, Tenn., who preceded him in death in July 2000. They had no children.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Destin United Methodist Church.
There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 19, at Destin United Methodist Church.
McLaughlin Mortuary in Fort Walton Beach is handling the arrangements.
Mattie Viola Gainey Prescott
Mattie Viola Gainey Prescott, 100, died March 19.
Mattie was born Nov. 12, 1901, to Frank and Frances Shiver Gainey in the Limestone Community of Florida. She had been a local resident for the past 53 years. In Mattie’s last years, she had lived with her niece in Fountain.
Mattie was preceded in death by her husband, W.H. Prescott.
She was Baptist by faith and loved to travel, go fishing and nature.
Survivors include her family, James McDaniel, Mary McDaniel, Cricket Carroll, Bunny and Chris McDaniel; a special nephew, Bill R. Gainey of Ponce de Leon; her faithful cat, Blue Moon; special friends, Tampa and Montine Burke, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Many thanks are extended to Dr. Ismial and staff and all at Doctor’s Memorial Hospital in Bonifay. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Services were scheduled for March 22 in Clary–Godwin Chapel in DeFuniak Springs, with the Rev. Ray Sublette scheduled to officiate. Burial was to follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
Floral contributions are being accepted.
Arrangements were handled by Clary–Godwin Funeral Home.
Mary Kathryn Miller
Mary Kathryn Miller, a lifelong resident of DeFuniak Springs, passed away March 19 at a local hospital.
She was born on Oct. 3, 1910, in Bruce to John Hartley and Nannie McDonald Lassiter.
Mary Kathryn was a member of First Presbyterian Church in DeFuniak Springs and of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter 115 of DeFuniak Springs.
Mary Kathryn was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Ralph Miller (former sheriff of Walton County); two daughters; one son; three brothers, Luther Hartley Lassiter, Dewey Matthews Lassiter Sr. and Willie Dee Lassiter; and two sisters, Carrie Carr and Addie Gomillion.
She is survived by a son, George Ralph Miller and wife, Dawne, of DeFuniak Springs; daughter, Fay Hardy of DeFuniak Springs and Newnan, Ga.; grandchildren, Melanie Hardy Mohney of Gardiner, Maine, Mary Leslie Hardy of Atlanta, George Ralph Miller Jr. of Ocala, Jennifer Brannon, Courtney Celeste Miller and Curtis Caswell Miller, all of DeFuniak Springs; and six great-grandchildren.
Services were scheduled for March 23 at First Presbyterian Church in DeFuniak Springs with the Revs. Henry Mooney and Ken Kelley officiating. Burial was to follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
Active pallbearers for the service were Larry Bell, Bruce Anderson, F. Lloyd Blue Jr., Bryan Kilbey, Mac Work, Stanley Hobbs and Tom Anderson. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. B.J. Brown, Hubert Bell, Joe Cromartie, Walker Green, Leland Wilkinson and P.W. Miles Jr.
Floral contributions were accepted or contributions can be made to First Presbyterian Church in DeFuniak Springs, or to your favorite charity.
Arrangements were entrusted to Clary-Godwin Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs.
Josephine Ann Nopper
Josephine Ann Nopper, nee Pahuski, 82, of Destin, died March 19.
Formerly of St. Louis, she had resided in Destin since 1998. She was born on Nov. 10, 1919.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister, brother, and son-in-law, Gene Westerfeld.
She is survived by her daughter, Rene Westerfeld; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister and brother.
A private memorial service will be held in St. Louis.
